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Expert book editing to help you get published

Q: What types of editing do you offer?

I offer developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and manuscript assessment.

The skilled editing of Bookediting.co.uk will strengthen your prospects of a traditional book publishing deal. If you’re set on self-publishing, the UK-based editing here will improve your chances of delighting readers and earning five-star reviews. We also offer a full self-publishing service, from unedited manuscript to finished print and e-book.

I’m Lee Dickinson, chief editor, and I want to make your book the best it can be. I know you’ve worked hard on your manuscript, and I can assure you of the same dedication here as I strive to make Bookediting.co.uk the leading website to help authors achieve their publishing dreams.

As an advanced professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, I have excellent credentials. Added to that expertise is a history of helping writers like you, which you can see in the superb testimonials above. As those writers found, the proofreading, copy, line or developmental editing of fiction or non-fiction manuscripts here is a personal, expert service.

Free e-book offer

A video – your editing in safe hands

Genres – book editing for most authors

Books across many genres of fiction and non-fiction have been edited throughout years of experience, including:

Self-help
Sport
Book club fiction
Christian
Theology
Biography
Memoir
Philosophy
Travel
Music
Business
Action–adventure
Fantasy (epic, urban, contemporary)
Science fiction (dystopian, hard, soft)
Speculative
Thriller (supernatural, psychological, legal, political, espionage, military)
Mystery (general, police procedural, noir, paranormal)
Magic realism
Metaphysical
Literary
Historical
New adult
Genre-mashers

Along with the chief editor, an extensive, experienced network of book editors means, whatever your genre, it’s likely you can be paired with the ideal UK expert.

A skilled editor can support an author all the way to writing that’s ready for the book stores. For self-publishing writers, the book editing here will ensure your words are pristine in a fierce market. Modern publishing has propelled writers from such humble starts to literary stardom. Let Bookediting.co.uk help you join them.

There are only 334 CIEP advanced professionals in the world, so you’re guaranteed the highest editing standards. Use the ‘Let’s work together’ button above or the Contact page link at the foot of this page. Let’s see if we can get you that book deal.

The latest blog is available here

Some of the books worked on

About the chief book editor

Lee Dickinson, the chief editor and founder of Bookediting.co.uk, pictured above, is an advanced professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP). He’s a print and digital editor with a 35-year editing, writing and layout background at national, local and international publishers.

He’s worked on hundreds of fiction and non-fiction manuscripts since completing the renowned CIEP fiction editing course. Lee completes or oversees all the book editing, so you’re assured of a personal service from him or a CIEP-accredited editor perfect for your genre.

Lee’s CIEP page is one of the links at the foot of the page.

What does a book editor do?

Prices – save hundreds of pounds

The price ranges here are an effort to be transparent in a way often lacking from other editing sites. We know you have two main questions: how good/experienced are they and how much does it cost? All the sites address the former, but many ignore the latter, which doesn’t serve you and makes them look evasive. You might have checked some before coming here, finding the information either hidden or only available by sending an email.
The price ranges below recognise that manuscripts require different amounts of work. You can send a representative sample of at least 5,000 words, or your full manuscript if you prefer, and Lee will get back to you promptly confirming the rate per 1,000 words.
Typically, the rates here for a 50,000-word copy edit, compared with other sites, offer a £300 to £425 saving.

Proofreading

Proofreading is a final-stage look at fully designed books before printing. It’s a check on the likes of running headers, page numbers, index accuracy, cross references, image and caption placement, front and end matter, plus other factors. Proofreading can’t be carried out on a file in Microsoft Word, which isn’t a full design program. Proofreading isn’t a re-edit, but it is a full readthrough and will correct any last-minute typos and minor errors. Proofreading is often misunderstood and presented as a lower-level edit, but it’s a separate process at a distinct, vital phase of book production.

£0.008 to £0.010 per word

Copy editing

A ‘micro’ look at everything including spelling, punctuation, grammar, clarity, word choice, succinctness, repetition and tense. Style guide consistency is also covered, along with fact-checking and feedback notes on macro issues.

£0.011 to £0.014 per word

Developmental editing

The ultimate macro book edit. A big-picture analysis of everything, including characterisation, structure, story arc, psychic distance, point of view, cause and effect, voice, pacing and plot, studying the timelines, settings, language, world-building and any subplots. Historical fiction, because of the added complexities of editing, tends to be toward the top end of the price range. Developmental edits include a comprehensive editor’s report.

£0.018 to £0.024 per word

Manuscript assessment

This is a lower-cost alternative to developmental book editing, covering all the main elements of your novel in a 1,500 to 2,000-word editor evaluation. You won’t get a line-by-line check with margin commentary in the same way as the developmental analysis, making this a more focused, convenient appraisal highlighting areas for improvement and your book’s strengths. This is suitable for fiction and memoirs up to 70,000 words. If your book’s longer than that, send a message to receive a fair price based on your word count.

£385

Self-publishing

Years of experience in book editing has given us a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of self-publishing. We now offer a complete hand-holding service for authors taking the self-publishing route. Done expertly, independent books offer an end product to rival even the biggest publishing houses – and you’ll get to keep all your profits. Click the button below if you’re interested in doing the work yourself; it links to a page based on our self-publishing pdf, which you can download.

As you’ll see, it’s a complex journey involving everything from ISBNs and barcodes, indexing, copyright, legal deposits and metadata to websites, social media and promotion. For some, that’s a learning opportunity to relish, but for others, understandably, it’s scary.

We can help. If you want someone to take charge of every aspect of self-publishing your book, starting with the editing that’s our core skill, contact us for a bespoke quote.

Helpful resources

Video tips on fiction writing

The videos below help with characterisation, dialogue, plotting and writing inspiration. The control second from right sets them to your full screen size.

Frequently asked questions about book editing

What types of editing do you offer?

We offer developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, and manuscript assessment.

What are your editing credentials?

Lee Dickinson, the chief editor, has 35 years' experience and is a Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading advanced professional member.

Do you work with publishers?

Lee Dickinson has worked with many publishers, including the likes of Bloomsbury.

What is your pricing structure?

Pricing varies based on manuscript length, editing type, and turnaround time. Contact Lee for a personalised quote.

How much does it cost to edit a novel in the UK?

The average price to copy edit a 70,000-word novel with a professional UK editor ranges from £770 to £2,500. The condition of the manuscript is a huge factor in that variation, and a genre specialist might charge toward the top end. BookEditing.co.uk chief editor Lee Dickinson, a CIEP advanced professional member, charges between £770 and £980, confirming the fee after analysis of an excerpt or the full manuscript.

Do professional UK editors offer free sample edits?

Some UK book editors offer free sample edits but many don't. An experienced, accredited, respected editor can let their past work speak much more loudly than free work, especially as such editors are always busy. BookEditing.co.uk chief editor Lee Dickinson offers a 1,000-word sample edit with a £25 fee, which is deducted from the editing cost for the full project.

What's the difference between proofreading and copy editing?

Proofreading is done on pre-edited and fully designed books, checking the likes of running headers, fixing typos, punctuation errors, spacing issues, minor inconsistencies, plus many other factors. Proofreading isn't a re-edit, but it is a full readthrough. It is often misunderstood and presented as a lower-level edit, but it's a separate process at a distinct, vital phase of book production. Copy editing goes much deeper by improving sentence flow, fixing repetition, spelling, punctuation, grammar, checking timeline logic, word choice, succinctness, tenses and clarifying phrasing. At BookEditing.co.uk, style guide consistency is also covered, along with fact-checking and feedback notes on macro issues.

Will an editor change my writing style?

A good editor won't alter your writing 'voice'. A great, distinctive voice is the gold dust of quality fiction and will set your novel apart, so it should be preserved. BookEditing.co.uk chief editor Lee Dickinson safeguards your voice while fixing errors and improving clarity. Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature means you're in control of every alteration.

Do I need an editor if I've used Grammarly or ProWritingAid?

Automated editing tools miss context, tone and flow, so writers need a skilled, experienced human editor. AI confirms this. Software can't tell when a sentence is technically correct but reads poorly. Grammarly, for example, relies on knowing if suggestions are correct and, surprisingly often, they're not. A good editor will know when to push back, but many writers will instead introduce errors. ChatGPT says: 'A skilled human editor remains difficult to replace. AI tends to optimize for what sounds good rather than what is actually correct, effective, or intentional. A strong editor does more than fix sentences. They understand intent, audience, and context.' DeepSeek adds: 'A human editor is essential. AI cannot replicate judgment, empathy, or creative flair. [It] would be like using an auto-tune karaoke machine to produce a Grammy-winning album. It can fix the pitch, but it can't create the soul.'

What type of editing do I need for my novel?

Many authors benefit most from a copy edit. It examines sentence-level issues, readability problems and the nuts and bolts of writing. Developmental editing examines everything but, for authors happy with the likes of their characterisation, plot and story arc, it can be overkill.

Last updated: 20 June 2026